Nickelodeon fans from the ’90s have had their fingers crossed for years hoping they would one day see their dream of a “Kenan & Kel” reboot come to fruition. On Saturday (Dec. 3), those dreams came true, sort of.
While hosting the latest episode of “Saturday Night Live,” actress Keke Palmer managed to pull off the impossible in the most dramatic and comical way. In one of last night’s skits, Palmer pitches a reimagining of the popular show to “SNL” castmate Kenan Thompson — but there’s a twist. The only caveat is that the fictional reboot would feature Thompson and the Nope star.
As most people are aware, Thompson and his goofy comedic equal, Kel Mitchell, starred in the original series in the mid-’90s. “I had already sold the show before I even met Kenan. I told the producers we wrote it together,” Palmer said in a scene intended to mock an interview about the reboot, “Kenan & Kelly.”
Elsewhere in the skit, the “Kenan & Kel” theme song gets a special tribute, with Thompson even wearing a wig resembling his former locs. They also recreated the series’ main setting, Rigby’s convenience store. When fans least expected it, Mitchell entered the scene, pleading for his favorite orange soda, just as he did on the original hit show. However, his presence is short-lived, as he is fatally shot by a robber. He dies in Kelly’s arms just as she reveals he is the father of her unborn child — the same baby she claimed belonged to Kenan moments prior. “Keke was gunning for an Emmy Award, so she wanted gritty and dramatic moments, and I thought, ‘That won’t work.’ And I was right,” Thompson said in a solo shot.
See how fans reacted to the reunion below.
WHAT DID I JUST SAY??? KEL DESERVED SNL TOO! Also just started rewatching Kenan and Kel the other day :’) so funny https://t.co/VJBcPKNQ3S
— ass crack bandit (@ass_crackbandit) December 4, 2022
Getting texts from people telling me there was a Kenan and Kel sketch on SNL last night is the love I deserve.
— Charlie Brown (@CosmicRafiki) December 4, 2022
Okay, the Kenan and Kel reboot on SNL got me. That was flipping hilarious.
— Joshua Todd James (@writerjoshjames) December 4, 2022
keke, kenan, and kel singlehandedly reviving the relevance of snl
— logan (@logannnh) December 4, 2022
As a kid I was extremely invested in the success of Kenan and Kel and wanted them to be SNL stars https://t.co/ZBqanBQKy3
— Sarah Dvojack (@sarahdvojack) December 4, 2022
This is quite possibly the darkest, yet FUNNIEST episode of Kenan and Kel(Ly) YET.
Hats off to the SNL writers for this one. https://t.co/vZtgmUQmzk
— Crosby Tatum (@crosbyt123) December 4, 2022
Real talk, Kenan, Kel, and Keke had the some of the best Nick shows ever with Kenan and Kel, and True Jackson VP. This is simply the ultimate homage
— Caleb is McFreakin CLAUS (@AirheadedAviatR) December 4, 2022
Can’t tell which SNL reunion I am more excited about Kenan and Kel or Kel and Orange Soda.
— Buttons streams Mario 3D World: Mon-2pm est. (@badatbuttons) December 4, 2022
Ok I really don’t watch SNL, but I laughed at this. Bring out more Keke, Kenan, and Kel! https://t.co/e3fhGKaOoO pic.twitter.com/VtP9bt4a44
— 🗣 I’m Outside Again (@RegalBasil) December 4, 2022
waking up to see a Kenan and Kel reunion and Keke pregnant on #SNL , my late 20s adult brain is struggling to comprehend the passage of time pic.twitter.com/MzPo8DZ87H
— B (@Brew_Stew) December 4, 2022
SNL REUNITING KENAN AND KEL BACK TOGETHER IS THE OPTIMISTIC FINALE THIS YEAR TRULY NEEDED! 😭🙏🏿
— theblackfreeman (@juju_F15) December 4, 2022
Keke Palmer really got a Kenan and Kel reunion on SNL. Baby that Emmy is being engraved RIGHT NOW https://t.co/Cujxzp0XzN
— LOCAL BLACK GIRL FOR HIRE (@IamNiaRae) December 4, 2022
Black millennials are hype AF right now! Keke making us Aunties and SNL did a reunion with Kenan and Kel. Best Saturday night everr!
— ilovemyshows (@aihams22) December 4, 2022
Kenan and Kel both auditioned for SNL so finally seeing Kel on the show tonight was gratifying. https://t.co/lE2tvQchoA
— Eli Sanza (@ejunkie2014) December 4, 2022
Ok but a Kenan and Kel sketch on Keke Palmer night? I’m 100% crying #SNL
— shadé🌸 (@shadeyxo) December 4, 2022
My childhood nostalgia seeing Kenan and Kel in the corner store with orange soda again😭😭😭😭#Kenan #Snl pic.twitter.com/s0eeSmvkOV
— 1_ofakindnocap (@1_ofakindnocap) December 4, 2022
Sure it’s the 90s kid in me, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Kenan and Kel is one of the greatest duos to exist. #SNL
pic.twitter.com/eAhST5HNDM— I have so many questions? (@english_shamar) December 4, 2022
a Kenan and Kel reunion on SNL only means one thing: I am officially old. decrepit. wasting away. ashes to ashes. https://t.co/7BHejPNoRe
— Bradford William Davis (parody) (@BWDBWDBWD) December 4, 2022
Keke Palmer is pregnant?!
And Kenan and Kel reunited?!
My Chicago heart grew two sizes tonight. #snl pic.twitter.com/PSjnLgoToe
— Natalie Mendenhall (@nattheproducer) December 4, 2022
I’m still not over this Kenan and Kel reunion. Just reboot the series with them as parents. #SNL pic.twitter.com/QnMnhVQH5Y
— Dana (Store Name) #AmplifyBlackVoices (@sagesurge) December 4, 2022
Name a more iconic duo. Kenan and Kel were 90s television you hear me? 👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥 #SNL pic.twitter.com/rzdSL5NSfM
— IG: __queenrakia (@hit_this_tweet) December 4, 2022
Me on my way to watch my requisite one episode of SNL a year because I’m hearing reports that Kenan and Kel have reunited and Keke Palmer is pregnant and the 90s Nickelodeon girlies are WINNING pic.twitter.com/mXAvxKfsyL
— Chaka Cumberbatch ✨💕 (@princessology) December 4, 2022
Kenan and Kel kept it tight after all these years!!! #SNL pic.twitter.com/y58qpA3BRw
— Matt Griffin (@mattgriffinreal) December 4, 2022
Black 90s kids, WE WON! #SNL gave us our Kenan and Kel reunion starring orange soda and Keke Palmer. pic.twitter.com/S3U0yC5VAS
— Dana (Store Name) #AmplifyBlackVoices (@sagesurge) December 4, 2022
I finally got a Kenan and Kel SNL sketch and it had Keke Palmer. This episode deserves an Emmy idk 😭
— Ashley K. (@AshleyKSmalls) December 4, 2022
The childhood nostalgia is real. I loved me some Kenan and Kel #SNL pic.twitter.com/1Whpif2RgR
— Phenomenally Black 💃🏾🦋🌺♈️ (@luvwinsresist) December 4, 2022
The reunion was just one of the show’s surprises. In her opening monologue, the 29-year-old finally put those ongoing pregnancy rumors to rest by revealing her baby bump. See her exciting announcement below.